Inside the Ruins of the Bull, Baker & Company Building of Shasta, California.

This episode of Exploring Shasta County History explores the story of the Bull, Baker & Company building and traces the rise and fall of one of northern California's most influential Gold Rush mercantile businesses. Through the lives of its founders—Alpheus Bull, George P. Baker, William Robbins, and later Adoram Coleman—it explores how commerce, fire, transportation, and changing fortunes shaped the once-booming town of Shasta. Today, the building's weathered brick ruins stand as a lasting reminder of the entrepreneurs who helped build California's northern frontier and the community that flourished before progress passed it by.

Video filmed on location.

Advertisement for the Bull, Baker & Company, of Shasta, California from the October 8, 1853, edition of the Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta. 

RESOURCES:

1850 U.S. Census

1852 California State Census

Theft - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, April 23, 1853

Per Adams & Company's Express - The Nevada Journal of Nevada City, Nevada, June 17, 1853

Terrible Conflagration - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, June 18, 1853

New Buildings - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, June 18, 1853

Brick Buildings - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, June 25, 1853

Brick Buildings - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, July 30, 1853

Brick - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, August 20, 1853

Building In Shasta - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, September 17, 1853

The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, October 8, 1853

Bull, Baker & Co's Building - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, October 8, 1853

Improvement of the Shasta and Yreka Trail written by Alpheus Bull - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, January 7, 1854

Mules in the Shasta Trade - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, November 11, 1854

The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, November 11, 1854

The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, November 25, 1854

The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, January 27, 1855

Returned - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, March 17, 1855

Improvements in Shasta - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, October 6, 1855

Hon. Wm. M. Gwin - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, January 12, 1856

Beautifying - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, January 26, 1856

The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, February 2, 1856

Shasta Wholesale Prices Current - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta - February 2, 1856

Fruit Trees for Sale - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, February 16, 1856

The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, March 1, 1856

Summons - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, March 1, 1856

Sheriffs Sale - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, July 15, 1857

Removal Hardware - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, January 2, 1858

Owner Wanted - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, January 23, 1858

Notice - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, April 3, 1858

Wm. Robbins - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta - April 3, 1858

District Court - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta - October 1, 1859

1860 U.S. Census

Washoe - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, March 10, 1860

The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, March 17, 1860

Preparing for Harvest - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, May 12, 1860

Alpheus Bull - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, October 13, 1860

The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, October 27, 1860

The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, April 6, 1861

Mr. Alpheus Bull - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, August 19, 1865

The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, December 30, 1865

Alpheus Bull California, U.S., Voter Registers, 1866-1898 

1870 U.S. Census

City Items in Brief - The San Francisco Chronicle newspaper of San Francisco, March 16, 1869

The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, December 24, 1870

Sarah Bull - The Sacramento Bee newspaper of Sacramento, September 7, 1871

Hanged Herself - The San Francisco Chronicle newspaper of San Francisco, September 16, 1871

The Death of Mrs. Bull - The San Francisco Call Bulletin newspaper of San Francisco, September 16, 1871

Sarah Bull - The Inyo Independent and Inyo Valley Progress Citizen newspaper of Lone Pine, September 16, 1871

1880 U.S. Census

The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, September 9, 1882

William Robbins - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, February 18, 1888

William Robbins - The Weekly Sentinel newspaper of Red Bluff, February 25, 1888

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/65339278/alpheus-bull

Bull's Judgement - The Oakland Tribune newspaper of Oakland, April 25, 1890

Alpheus Bull Drowned - The Evening Mail newspaper of Stockton, California, May 16, 1890

Alpheus Bull - The Oakland Tribune newspaper of Oakland, May 16, 1890

Death of Alpheus Bull - The San Francisco Examiner newspaper of San Francisco, May 17, 1890

Alpheus Bull Drowned - The Sacramento Bee newspaper of Sacramento, May 17, 1890

Over the Bank - The San Francisco Chronicle newspaper of San Francisco, May 17, 1890

Alpheus Bull Drowned - The Sacramento Union newspaper of Sacramento,  May 17, 1890

Death Notice - The San Francisco Examiner newspaper of San Francisco, May 18, 1890

Millionaire Bull Drowned - The Lyon County News and the Emporia Times newspaper of May 22, 1890

Alpheus Bull’s Watch - The San Francisco Call newspaper of San Francisco, May 23, 1890

Alpheus Bull. - The Ketchum Keystone newspaper of Ketchum, Idaho, May 24, 1890

Alpheus Bull’s Estate - The San Francisco Call newspaper of San Francisco, May 25, 1890

The Will of the Late Alpheus Bull. - The Sunday Oregonian newspaper of Portland, Oregon, May 25, 1890

Death of Alpheus Bull - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, May 31, 1890

An Argonaut of ‘49 - The Lawrence Daily Gazette newspaper of Lawrence, Kansas - June 6, 1890

An Argonaut of ‘49 - The St. Joseph Gazette of St. Joseph, Missouri, June 8, 1890

1900 U.S. Census

1910 U.S. Census

Our Storied Landmarks – Shasta County, California, written by May H. Southern, published by Balakshin Printing Company, ©1942. 

Shasta County, California A History by Rosena Giles, published by Biobooks, ©1949.

Shasta: The Queen City by Mabel Moores Frisbie and Jean Moores Beauchamp, published by California Historical Society, ©1973.

Shasta State Historic Park Brief History and Tour Guide, published by Shasta State Historic Park, ©July 1985

Ball's Ferry: the ferry, the townsite and the fishing resort.

From its beginnings as the site of Shasta County, California's earliest lumber operations in 1844 to its growth as a vital Sacramento River crossing during the late 1860s Ball's Ferry played a significant role in the development of northern California. This episode of Exploring Shasta County History explores how a small ferry landing evolved into a thriving community that served travelers, miners, and ranchers for nearly half a century, leaving a lasting legacy in Shasta County history. Please hit the like button, comment on the video, and smash that subscribe button. Until next time, enjoy…

RESOURCES:

1850 U.S. Census

1852 California State Census

1860 U.S. Census

Board of Supervisors - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, May 9, 1868

Left Town - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, December 19, 1868

1870 U.S. Census

1880 U.S. Census

The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, June 21, 1884

The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, September 20, 1884

A Flying Trip - The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, October 17, 1885

That Free Bridge - The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, December 5, 1885

The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, September 4, 1886

The Free Press newspaper of Redding, September 13, 1890 

The Free Press newspaper of Redding, February 3, 1894

The Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 17, 1894

The Free Press newspaper of Redding, May 19, 1894

The Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 21, 1894

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 22, 1895

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, May 7, 1895

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 23, 1895

Balls Ferry Items - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, October 31, 1895

Balls Ferry Items - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, November 2, 1895

Tolls Again - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, November 12, 1895

The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, November 23, 1895

The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, January 5, 1897

Supervisor Proceedings - The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, January 8, 1897

Balls Ferry Bridge - The Daily Free Press of newspaper of Redding, January 19, 1897

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 6, 1897

Papers Filed - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, August 27, 1897

The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, September 8, 1897

The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, September 11, 1897

From Ball's Ferry - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 20, 1898

A Ball's Ferry Tragedy - The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, August 24, 1898

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, October 3, 1899

Luke Lukes Sells Ball's Ferry Mill - The Free Press newspaper of July 13, 1901

Found His Pig in the Butcher Shop - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, February 8, 1902

Ball's Ferry Dances Through the Storm - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 14, 1902

Ball's Ferry Bridge Is Made Secure - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 19, 1902

Ball’s Ferry Is a Political Center - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, September 13, 1902

Ball's Ferry News Items - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, November 22, 1902

Some Doings of Ball's Ferry Folk - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, February 9, 1903

Ball’s Ferry Now a Boating Resort - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 17, 1903

Post Office and Saloon Building - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, September 18, 1903

Ball's Ferry Post Office and Store Burned - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, September 18, 1903

Ball's Ferry Fire Unsolved Mystery - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, September 19, 1903

360 Tons of Fruit from Ball's Ferry - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, December 12, 1903

Social Event at Ball’s Ferry - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, January 8, 1904

Power Plant at Horseshoe Bend - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, February 5, 1904

Ball's Ferry Has Library - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 16, 1904

Telephones and More Telephones - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, May 19, 1904

Has Lived for Nearly One Century - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, May 28, 1904 (telephone line.)

Ball’s Ferry is Saying “Hello” - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, June 3, 1904

Found A Coin Over Two Hundred Years Old - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, October 21, 1904

The Ball's Ferry Hotel is Sold - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, November 27, 1904

Big Prices for Dried Fruit - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, August 11, 1905

Found Dead in Bed in Hotel at Ball's Ferry - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 16, 1906

November 24, 1906

The Courier-Free Press newspaper, March 15, 1907 (power company hello line.)

Ball's Ferry - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 21, 1915

One More Ferry Landmark Gone - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, December 23, 1920

Balls Ferry Items - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, November 9, 1927

My Playhouse Was a Concord Coach, an anthology of newspaper clippings and documents relating to those who made California history during the years 1822-1888, by Mae Hélène Bacon Boggs. Published by Howell-North Press ©1942

Ball’s Ferry Was Bustling Town of Many Varied Personalities Written by Rosena A. Giles - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, August 29, 1946

Shasta County, California A History by Rosena Giles, published by Biobooks, ©1949.

Echoes from the Past written by Rosena A. Giles - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, July 19, 1951

Place Names of Shasta County by Gertrude A. Steger revision by Helen Hinckley Jones, ©1966 by La Siesta Press, Glendale, California

Balls Ferry Resort Sold - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, December 29, 1978

U.S., Appointments of U.S. Postmasters, 1832-1971

The Disappearance of Ruth (Bedford) Rhoades-Knight: A MURDER AT THE OLD SPANISH MINE.

The historic Old Spanish mine was located and prospected by local miners before, the year 1894, and was once a lucrative producer of gold in the boundaries of the Lower Springs Mining District, near Redding, California, which was later subdivided into a local neighborhood with modern homes. Its adits and winzes were also plugged for safety reasons at that time as well. However, its history can still be documented, and this former mining property is where Shasta County authorities removed the remains of Mrs. Ruth (Bedford) Rhoades-Knight who went missing from Marysville, California, in 1945, eighty-one years ago. Mrs. Knight's gruesome murder occurred at the Old Spanish mine, and her body was dumped into a 60-foot winze of this mine by her husband, Louis Barney Knight. For those of you who are true crime fans I hope you enjoy this episode of Exploring Shasta County history as I trace the life and chilling murder of Mrs. Ruth (Bedford) Rhoades-Knight whose tragic story has become forgotten over the years. She is buried in the Anderson District Cemetery in Anderson, California. For more information click the YouTube link below, please watch, like, comment, share and subscribe to my YouTube channel.

RESOURCES:

1900 U.S. Census

1910 U.S. Census

1920 U.S. Census

1930 U.S. Census

1940 U.S. Census

Woman's Body Found in Mine is Identified - The Sacramento Union newspaper of Sacramento, July 21, 1946

Hubby Held In Mine Death - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 22, 1946

California Authorities Enroute to Return 1st Degree Murder Suspect - The Daily Herald newspaper of Provo, Utah, July 23, 1946

Man Will Face Slaying Probe - The Albuquerque Tribune newspaper of Albuquerque, New Mexico, July 23, 1946

The Deseret News newspaper of Salt Lake City, Utah, July 23, 1946

Knight Waves Extradition in Shasta Slaying - The Sacramento Bee newspaper of Sacramento, July 24, 1946

Slain Woman's Husband Held on Murder Charge - The Chico Record newspaper of Chico, July 24, 1946

Knight Agrees to Face Wife’s Death Inquiry - The Albuquerque Journal newspaper of Albuquerque, New Mexico, July 25, 1946

Man Held in Utah for Shasta Death - The Salinas Californian newspaper of Salinas - July 25, 1946

Knight Waves Extradition in Mine Slaying - The Sacramento Union newspaper of Sacramento, July 25, 1946 

Knight Declares That Wife Killed Self - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, July 25, 1946

The Almost Perfect Crime - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 25, 1946

Suspect Admits Striking Wife With Hatchet Officers Say -  The Salt Lake Tribune newspaper of Salt Lake City, Utah, July 25, 1946

Mine Murder Count Names Louis Knight - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 25, 1946

Knight is Taken to Murder Scene at Shasta Mine - The Sacramento Bee newspaper of Sacramento, July 26, 1946

Knight Craves Water; Has Sheriff Shake Rain Water Onto His Face - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 26, 1946

Knight Declares Wife Suicide - The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 26, 1946

Knight to Stand Murder Trial - The Sacramento Bee newspaper of Sacramento, July 26, 1946

Officer Studies Knight Murder Car - The Daily Herald newspaper of Provo, Utah, July 26, 1946

Knight's Story Unchanged at Murder Scene - The Sacramento Union newspaper of Sacramento, July 27, 1946

Coroner's Jury Indicts Knight - The Sacramento Union newspaper of Sacramento, July 29, 1946

Knight is Held Responsible for Death of Wife - The Sacramento Bee newspaper of Sacramento, July 29, 1946 

Jury Names Knight As Slayer - the Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 29, 1946

Knight May Get Hearing Tomorrow - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 30, 1946

Knight Sticks to Same Story - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 31, 1946

Knight Confesses Slaying - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, August 1, 1946

Knight Arraignment Continued; Toung-Slip Helped Break Case - The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, August 2, 1946

Delay is Granted Confessed Wife Slaying for Plea - The Sacramento Bee newspaper of Sacramento, August 2, 1946

Knight Admits Wife Murder - The Sacramento Union newspaper of Sacramento, August 2, 1946

Knight Given Delay Before Making Plea - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, August 3, 1946

Slip of Tongue Brings Confession in Knight Case - The Chico Record newspaper of Chico, August 4, 1946

Knight Arraignment Continued; Tongue Slip Helped Case - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, August 8, 1946

Knight Given Postponement- The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, August 13, 1946

The Daily Herald newspaper of Provo, Utah, August 14, 1946

Body of Former El Dorado Woman Discovered in Mine - The El Dorado Springs Sun newspaper of El Dorado Springs, Missouri, August 15, 1946

Knight Guilty; Goes to Prison - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, September 3, 1946

Knight Pleads Guilty to Wife Slaying Charge - The Sacramento Bee newspaper of Sacramento, September 4, 1946

Louis Knight Gets Five Year to Life for Murder of Wife - The Daily Herald newspaper of Provo, Utah, September 5, 1946

Knight Sentenced in Wife Slaying - The Albuquerque Journal newspaper of New Mexico, September 5, 1946

Engineer Captured at Provo, Draws Sentence in Killing - The Salt Lake Tribune newspaper of Salt Lake City, Utah, September 5, 1946

Wife Slayer Seeks Parole - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, February 12, 1948

North State Felons - The Sacramento Bee newspaper of Sacramento, March 30, 1948

California, U.S., Prison and Correctional Records, 1851-1950 for Louis Knight

1950 U.S. Census

The Sacramento Bee newspaper of Sacramento, January 24, 1950

Three Convicts Appeal Terms - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, January 26, 1950

Parole Denied - The Sacramento Bee newspaper of Sacramento, March 27, 1950

Authority Acts on Parole Requests - The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 18, 1953

The Sacramento Bee newspaper of Sacramento, April 8, 1954

Murder of 1945 to be Reviewed - The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 8, 1955

The Sacramento Bee newspaper of Sacramento, March 24, 1955

Man 79, Gets Prison for Molesting Girl, 8 - The Sacramento Union newspaper of Sacramento, October 11, 1967

Bob L. Knight Obituary - The Sacramento Union newspaper of Sacramento, May 20, 1969

A PIONEER LUMBER MERCHANT OF CALIFORNIA: JOSEPH EMMET TERRY (1863-1934) & THE TERRY LUMBER COMPANY.

Joseph Emmet Terry, (1863-1934).

Joseph Emmet Terry was a prominent California pioneer lumber merchant, magnate, and the founder of the Terry Lumber Company, which later evolved into the Shasta Land and Timber Company, and played a vital role in the development of the timber industry in Shasta County, California. Come learn about Terry's family, his dealings as well as his businesses. In this episode of Exploring Shasta County history, we also visit sites formerly owned by Joseph E. Terry in Round Mountain and in Bella Vista. Terry Mill Road in Round Mountain is named after his sawmill which formerly operated along the roadside there and it still bears his surname today. The pioneer is buried in the Terry family plot at the historic Old Sacramento City Cemetery in Sacramento, California. Click the link to learn more. Please like, share, comment, and if you haven't yet - SUBSCRIBE to my You Tube Channel.

Filmed on locations.

Resources:

1850 U.S. Census

1860 U.S. Census

1870 U.S. Census

1880 U.S. Census

The Daily Examiner newspaper of San Francisco, September 18, 1887

An Illustrated History of Sacramento County, California. By Hon. Win. J. Davis. Lewis Publishing Company 1890. Page 345-347.

Social and Personal - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, April 23, 1890

Social and Personal - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, May 3, 1890

A Prominent Citizen Gone - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, December 4, 1893

For Nearly a Million - The Sacramento Bee newspaper of Sacramento, December 26, 1893

A Heavy Bond - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, December 27, 1893

The Free Press newspaper of Redding, May 25, 1897

A Great Bargain - The Sacramento Union newspaper of Sacramento, May 30, 1897

A Big Deal - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, June 1, 1897

The Shasta Lumber Company – The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, June 1, 1897

Friend & Terry - The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, June 13, 1897

Friend & Terry - The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, June 15, 1897

For Shasta's Lumber - The Examiner newspaper of San Francisco, June 16, 1897

The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, June 16, 1897

Friend & Terry - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, June 19, 1897

The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, June 28, 1897

Wages Reduced - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, June 29, 1897

Preparing to Cut Lumber - The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 1, 1897

The Bella Vista Lumber Yard Sold - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 6, 1897

The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 22, 1897

At the Limber Camp - The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 23, 1897

Lumber Manufacturing - The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, August 14, 1897

Work in the Woods - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, October 5, 1897

The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, November 13, 1897

Death of Enright - The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, December 6, 1897

A Boom in Lumber - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, January 22, 1898

Mill Closed Down - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 26, 1898

The Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 19, 1898

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 22, 1898

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, June 28, 1898

The Terry Lumber Company - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, August 2, 1898

A Bad Accident - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, August 3, 1898

The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, September 22, 1898 (building new bunker at Round Mountain.)

The Terry Lumber Mill - The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, September 23, 1898

Railroad to the Roost - The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, January 28, 1899

That Railroad Rumor - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 31, 1899

Bridge the Sacramento - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, February 11, 1899

Mills Start Up Soon - The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 11, 1899

1900 U.S. Census

Disputed Street Way - The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, January 11, 1900

Old Terry Mill Is Now In Full Blast - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, May 2, 1901

Day and Night - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, June 21, 1901

Dr. Coffey Marries A Belle in Sacramento - The San Francisco Call newspaper of San Francisco, July 10, 1902

A Farm for Breeding Blue-Blooded Horses - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, June 13, 1903

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, September 1, 1903

J.E. Terry's Dogs Capture Honors - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 17, 1904

Incendiaries Burn Terry's Lumber Yard - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, May 20, 1904

One of Terry's Mills Has Closed - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, November 4, 1904

Fell From Terry Lumber Flume and Badly Hurt - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, November 4, 1904

Redding Lumber to Bella Vista - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 6, 1905

Both Mills Will Run Night and Day - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, June 26, 1906

Went North to Buy Lumber - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, September 8, 1906

Terry's Mill Swept Away by a Raging Flood of Water - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, November 5, 1906

Terry Mill Will Start Up Monday - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, December 25, 1906

Lost in Woods and Perished -  The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, December 27, 1906

Day and a Quarter Shifts - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, February 19, 1907

The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, April 9, 1907

Terry’s Mill Started Up - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 9, 1907

Lumber Plants of Northern California - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, April 20, 1907

Lumber Season Ends at Round Mountain - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, December 10, 1907

1910 U.S. Census

Fire Wipes Out Shasta Plant - The Sacramento Union newspaper of Sacramento, June 16, 1910

Repair Timber Railroads - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, July 27, 1910

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 5, 1911

Bank of Shasta Fails for $300,000 - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 26, 1911

Deposits Fell Off $382, 000 In A Year - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 27, 1911

Bank of Shasta County Closed Its Doors Saturday - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, March 28, 1911

Bank Situation Is Uncleared - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 30, 1911

Depositors of Bank Assemble and Complete Permanent Organization - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 7, 1911

Bank of Shasta County and First Savings Bank of Shasta in Liquidation - The Courier-Free Press of Redding, April 10, 1911

Bank Collapse Due to Huge Overdraft - The San Francisco Examiner newspaper of San Francisco, April 10, 1911

Terry Promises to Make Good to Bank - The Sacramento Star newspaper of Sacramento, April 10, 1911

Affairs of Bank of Shasta to be Wound Up by Banking Board - The Sacramento Bee newspaper of Sacramento, April 10, 1911

None of the Public's Business Says Terry - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, April 11, 1911

Shasta Bank's Wreck Worse Than Thought - The San Francisco Examiner newspaper of San Francisco, April 11, 1911

Terry Said to be Coming Through - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, April 13, 1911

Mitchell Thinks Facts Were Misrepresented - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 14, 1911

Depositors Committee Confers with Directors and Bank Stockholders - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, April 15, 1911

Bush Tells About Big Loans - The Sacramento Bee newspaper of Sacramento,

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 18, 1911

$46,000 Will Go to Pay the Depositors - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, May 5, 1911

Bank of Shasta's Deals Explained - The San Francisco Examiner newspaper of San Francisco, May 6, 1911

J.E. Terry Takes the Financial Situation Very Much to Heart - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, May 17, 1911

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, May 19, 1911

Bank Depositors Hold Big Meeting - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, May 20, 1911

Big Borrowers Threatened with Prosecution by the Shasta Bank Depositors - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, May 21, 1911

Terry to Pay $100,000 And Give Securities for Balance of Loan - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, May 30, 1911

Grand Jury Probing Terry $205,000 Loan - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, June 20, 1911

Terry Tried to Withdraw His $100,000 Offer - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, June 20, 1911

Reason for Trying to Withdraw Offer - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 10, 1911

Tells Why He Withdrew $100,000 Compromise - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 11, 1911

J.E. Terry - Wendling Conspiracy to Defraud Bank of Shasta County - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 16, 1911

Bank of Shasta Shortage is $110,386.75 - The Sacramento Bee newspaper of Sacramento, January 23, 1912

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 1, 1912

R.R. Extension to Ingot - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, March 24, 1912

Impressions of the Day at Terry’s - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 16, 1912

The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, August 23, 1912

Anderson Enjoys Prosperity - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, December 20, 1912

Survey Party Goes Out on Terry Road - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, February 8, 1913

Reorganizing Terry Lumber Interests - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, May 7, 1913

Shasta Land and Timber Company Organized with Capital of One Million - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, May 9, 1913

Terry Organizes Big Lumber Company - The Sacrament Bee newspaper of Sacramento, May 9, 1913

Terry Interests Are Reorganized - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, May 9, 1913

The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, June 27, 1913

Traction Engine Stripped of Cogs Backs Down Hill - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, September 6, 1913

Twenty Million Feet Cut During 1913 at Terry’s Mill - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, December 10, 1913

Shasta Land & Timber to Resume Work Right Away - The Searchlight newspaper of April 11, 1916

Terry Mills to Be Opened Soon - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, June 27, 1916

Terry Property Being Inspected - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 29, 1916

Bella Vista Mill Employs 300 Men - The Sacramento Union newspaper of Sacramento August 6, 1916

Starting Up at Terry's - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 27, 1917

Morse Originator of Famous Shasta Lumber Flume - The Chico Record newspaper of Chico, May 5, 1917

Notice of Commissioners Sale of Real Property - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, November 1, 1918

Terry Holdings Are to Be Sold November 23 - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, October 12, 1918

Terry Property is Sold for $180,000 - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, November 24, 1918

The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 17, 1919

Buying What's Left of Terry Property - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, September 27, 1919

1920 U.S. Census

Terry Timber Property Reported Sold to Red River Lumber Company - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 15, 1920

Terry Lands Are Sold to Walker Company – The Red Bluff Daily News newspaper of Red Bluff, January 17, 1920

Walkers Improving Lumber Property – The Sacramento Union newspaper of Sacramento, January 27, 1920

Red River Lumber Company Purchases Terry Land Mill - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 12, 1920

$23,080.12 Taxes Paid to Redeem Terry Property - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 26, 1920

Red River Lumber Company Will Employ 500 Men; Railroad Purchased - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 31, 1920

Huge Prices for Lumber Stirs Industry - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, May 21, 1920

Creditors Get Last Payments - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, September 24, 1920

The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, March 20, 1921

The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, March 1, 1922 (oil)

May Develop Terry Timber – The Sacramento Union newspaper of Sacramento, January 28, 1920

1930 U.S. Census

Pioneer Woman, 100, Honored; O' Shaughnessy Passes 70 Mark - The San Francisco Examiner newspaper of San Francisco, May 29, 1934

Joseph Terry Dies Suddenly - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, June 3, 1934

Funeral is Held in Capital for Joseph E. Terry - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, June 4, 1934

California, U.S., San Francisco Area Funeral Home Records, 1895-1985 for Joseph E Terry Book No: 27 - Page: 305

U.S., Family History Books for Joseph Emmet Terry

A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern California: Including Biographies of Many of Those Who Have Passed Away

Mrs. Laura Terry, Pioneer of 1856, Succombs - The San Francisco Examiner newspaper of San Francisco, April 5, 1938

Terry - The San Francisco Examiner newspaper of San Francisco, April 6, 1938

Flumes, Steam Tractors Hauled Lumber in Early Days - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, July 17, 1947

The Red River Legend Lives - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 22, 1981

Today In History - The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, November 28, 2000

MONTGOMERY CREEK FALLS

Filmed on location March 14, 2026.

A personal look into the history of this natural 60-foot picturesque waterfall, and the person which the falls, the creek and the nearby townsite is named in honor of. This is Montgomery Creek Falls.

RESOURCES:

Montgomery Notes - The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, April 6, 1900

Montgomery Notes - The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, April 21, 1900

Zach Montgomery Passes Away - The Sacramento Bee newspaper of Sacramento, September 4, 1900

Echoes from the Past: Pioneers Left Their Names to County written by Rosena A. Giles - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 20, 1953

Montgomery Creek Falls Eyed as Site for Hydro Project - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 22, 1986

Apples and People Like Cooler Weather written by Sharon Hamblin - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, August 12, 1992

Numerous Waterfalls Formed by Rushing Streams - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, May 5, 1993

Residents Persist After Devastating Fire - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, August 14, 1996

THE LUMBER INDUSTRY EMERGES AND EVOLVES IN SHASTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

Filmed on location.

On this episode of Exploring Shasta County history we examine the lumber industry in Shasta County, California, which began in 1844, evolving from a frontier necessity into a primary economic driver that peaked in the mid-20th century, and never had an industrial bust, yet it kept evolving into the industry it is today with many changes overtime from hand tools to mechanized machinery, sawmills,  transportation equipment and more making it a lucrative industry for logging companies to be a part of. 

Above: Jeff Reed, left, and John Hansel whipsaw a tree circa 1890, with a dog in the foreground. Courtesy of Shasta Historical Society.

Resources: 

Interests Are Varied - The San Francisco Call newspaper of San Francisco, December 26, 1901

Northern Sawmills - The Fresno Bee newspaper of Fresno, May 1, 1903

Shasta's Lumbering Industry is Second to Mining - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, January 21, 1904

Lumbering Interests in Northern California - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, January 22, 1907

Lumber Plants of Northern California - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, April 20, 1907

Studies Smelting and Lumbering - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 14, 1907

Studying Economic Conditions in Northern California - The Marysville Daily Appeal newspaper of Marysville - July 17, 1907

Cottonwood Is Shipping Point - The Sacramento Union newspaper of Shasta, September 19, 1911

10 Largest Timber Holdings in the State - The Ventura Free Press newspaper of Ventura, January 17, 1916

Defense Spurs Lumber Industry in Shasta County - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 18, 1941

My Playhouse Was A Concord Coach, an anthology of newspaper clippings and documents relating to those who made California history during the years 1822-1888, by Mae Hélène Bacon Boggs. Published by Howell-North Press ©1942 

Lumber Payroll Here is $5 Million - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 21, 1946

Shasta Leads in Lumber - The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, September 27, 1946

Flumes, Steam Tractors Hauled Lumber in Early Days - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, July 17, 1947

Shasta County, California A History by Rosena Giles, published by Biobooks, ©1949.

Spring Lumber Boom Expected; Prices Up - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, December 23, 1949

Sustained Yield is New Idea to Assure Stability in Shasta's Lumber Industry - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, June 10, 1950

Way Back When - Myrtle McNamar, published by C.A.T. Publishing of Redding, California, 1952. 282 pages.

Lumberman Predict Good Year Ahead - The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 12, 1955

Lumberman Wonder What Future Will Bring - The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 12, 1957

Lumber Is Big Business in California; Started in 1843 - The Blue Lake Advocate newspaper of Blue Lake, July 28, 1960

Say Tree Growing Practiced Right Can Equal Cutting - The Geyserville Press newspaper of Geyserville, July 29, 1960

Heroes of the Western Woods - Ralph W. Andrews, published by Dutton & Co., Inc., New York: E.P.  ©1960.

Famous Old Sawmills of the Shingletown Ridge. Written by Leo T. Cunningham. The Covered Wagon 1965, pp. 15-20. Published by Shasta Historical Society.

Tight Money Brings Lumber Industry to Brink of Slump written by John Lawson - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, October 6, 1966

Aerial Logging Opens New Land written by Henry Bussey - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, February 25, 1971

Clear Cut Logging: Crime or Conservation? - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, July 7, 1971

Helicopters Aid Logging Industry - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, October 5, 1979

Logging Woes: How Much More? Written by John Crowe - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, December 24, 1979

Where The 'Ell Is Shingletown? The Shingletown Story by Marion V. Allen ©1979 Printed by Press Room Inc., Redding, California, Pages 81. 

Leaves of the Past, 1828-1880 by Ruth Hitchcock Book Five, Association for Northern California Records and Research. Chico: California State University Meriam Library. ©1980.

Birth Of the Shasta County lumber industry - by Jeremy M. Tuggle - Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 13, 2017 

Selected Sawmills of the Shingletown Area - by Jeremy M. Tuggle - Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, February 4, 2017 

LA MOINE, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 1906 Tree fallers working for La Moine Lumber and Trading Co.'s property at La Moine, Shasta County, California, summer of 1906. SOURCE Miller, C. R. (Charles Richard), 1875-1934.

CALIFORNIA STATE SENATOR, JOHN BENJAMIN McCOLL (1893-1938): THE FOUNDER OF McCOLL'S DAIRY IN REDDING, CALIFORNIA.

Filmed on location February 14, 2026.

Come check out the final resting place of local Redding politician, Senator John Benjamin McColl (1893-1938), the founder of McColl's Dairy in Redding, California who is interred in the East Lawn Memorial Park at Sacramento, California, as I chase Shasta County history in the state capital. You might remember him from my episode on McColl's Dairy at this link here.